Navy Commissions Submarine New Hampshire

Friday, October 24, 2008

U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg will deliver the ceremony's principal address. The ship's sponsor, Cheryl McGuinness of , , is the widow of Lt. Cmdr. Thomas McGuinness, a veteran Navy pilot and co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11 which was flown into the of the by terrorists Sept. 11, 2001. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when McGuinness gives the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

The fifth submarine of the Virginia-class, was delivered eight months early thanks to the Navy's on-going cost-reduction initiatives. This will mark the first time since 1996 that the Navy has commissioned two submarines of the same class in the same year. USS North Carolina (SSN 777) was commissioned in May.

Cmdr. Mike Stevens, a native of , will become the ship's first commanding officer, leading a crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted personnel.

The 7,800-ton was built under a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. is 337 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet and can operate at depths greater than 800 feet and at speeds exceeding 25 knots submerged. is also designed with a reactor plant which will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing operational availability.